Plant of the Week: Tillandsia

Tillandsias, aka airplants, are magical, quirky weidos. Why do people grow them?

First, they are ridiculously low-maintenance. Think no soil, no repotting, no mess. A quick soak or a couple of mistings a week, plus bright light, and they're happy.

Tillandsia on cholla with moss

Second, they are easy to display in hundreds of ways. Try them in seashells, collected on beach vacations over the years. Display on driftwood, cholla, rocks, hanging from a string, decorating a grapevine wreath, glued to magnets, tucked into picture frames... the options seem endless. 

Our own display is chock full of different tillandsias.

With so many shapes, forms, and textures, the furry, spiky, curly, symmetrical, chaotic objects are living sculptures that can be fashioned all sorts of ways. 

Various bold-colored blooms

Air plants' blooms are a wonderful surprise. Purples, hot pinks, and reds grace the plants for weeks, even months, rewarding the grower/collector with the amazing flowers. 

Last week's Tillandsia Workshop 

Additionally, they're space-friendly. Perfect for desks, dorms, or anywhere a pot isn't necessary, these magical plants totally change the vibe of the smallest space. 

Choosing just the right plants for the project

Tillandsias, like most epiphytic plants, are tough and adaptable, an inspiration to draw from when we face challenges. 

Fun epiphytic workshop

They spark curious glances from our customers, who generally seem to love the fascinating forms they come in. 

Stop in and see our display today. 

Plant of the Week: Hellebores

What's not to love about Hellebores? They're evergreen, deer-resistant, shade-loving, early bloomers, and, above all, beautiful! Once this dang snow melts, you're bound to see flowers emerging from this remarkable plant. 

Pearl-white blooms on dark foliage

Hellebores are native to Europe and Asia. Though some will reseed, they stay put where they are planted in our area.  The one to two-foot plants are popular in woodland gardens. Stems bear cup-shaped flowers in white, purple, pink, and green shades. Plants are poisonous, which is why they are deer-resistant. 

Mixed varieties add early color to my foundation garden

In my garden, they thrive in light to heavy shade. The garden soil is well-drained. They have become drought-resistant after several years. Hellebores are hardy in our zone 7 and from USDA zones 3-9.

New, tender growth emerging in early March

Hellebores like cooler temperatures for planting, making spring and fall ideal. Be careful not to bury the crown too deeply and avoid mulching near the crown. 

Pink -tipped blooms nod in the garden

As the flowers are soon to emerge, remove any tattered leaves to make room for the new growth. Many of the newer varieties of Hellebores stand up straight, not nodding like many of the varieties in my own garden. 

Nodding pink flowers  on bright green leaves

Fertilize in fall or early spring with Plant Tone or your favorite organic or slow-release plant food. 

The forager in me picked early maple leaves, cedar, and bleeding heart to accompany the Hellebores. 

Enjoy these wonderful plants early this season. See our Plantfinder for a look at each of the almost 50 varieties we sell at Valley View Farms in our perennial department.